DENVER, May 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sundance Energy Australia Limited (ASX:SEA) (NASDAQ:SNDE) (“Sundance” or the “Company”), a U.S. onshore oil and gas exploration and production company focused in the Eagle Ford in South Texas, reported its first quarter 2018 financial and operations results.

First Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Adjusted EBITDAX of $12.3 million, or 51.3 percent Adjusted EBITDAX Margin. This figure excludes the one time impact of $1.0 million of non-recurring deal costs related to the Pioneer transaction which were expensed during the quarter.

Total revenue increased 3.5% to $24.0 million as compared to the same prior year period

Average first quarter price realized excluding the impact of hedging and fixed price physical delivery contracts was $64.80 per barrel and $46.54 per Boe. Average first quarter price received per barrel was $55.15 and per Boe was $40.59.

Cash operating costs increased 38.4% to $20.61/Boe for the quarter, as compared to $14.89/Boe for the same prior year period. The increase was driven by higher Lease Operating Expenses of $11.25/boe primarily due to workover expenses and conversion of wells from rod to gas lift.

As of May 14, 2018, the Company’s oil hedges covered a total of 3.9 million bbls through 2023 with a weighted average floor of $50.34 and ceiling of $57.61. Hedging covered approximately 54% of 2018 and ~17% of 2019 forecast production.

Operational Highlights

First quarter net production increased 5% to 630,183 Boe, or 7,002 Boe/day as compared to the same period in the prior year and decreased 18% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2017.

The Company did not bring any new wells into production during the quarter, but it drilled two gross (1.9 net) wells. The Paloma Ranch 7H and Peeler Ranch EFS 9HC had lateral lengths of 7,799 feet and 6,025 feet, respectively. In addition, as of quarter end the Company was in the process of drilling a third (1.0 net) well at quarter‐end, the Peeler Ranch 8HC with a lateral length of 5,778 ft. Drilling was completed on 12 April 2018.

First quarter development and production related expenditures totaled $8.3 million.

Pioneer Natural Resources Joint Venture Acquisition and Guidance

During the quarter, the Company announced it had entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement to acquire approximately 21,900 net acres and 1,700 Boe/d of production in the Eagle Ford from a joint venture operated by Pioneer Natural Resources, USA, Inc. for cash consideration of US$221.5 million, subject to post‐closing adjustments. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, this acquisition successfully closed as outlined in the Company’s 26 April, 2018 release.

To fund the acquisition, the Company raised US$260.0 million of new equity. In addition, the Company refinanced its existing credit facility contemporaneous with the acquisition closing.

Inclusive of the acquisition, the Company anticipates average production for the first half of 2018 to be 7,000-7,500 boe/d with significant development activities in the second half of the year increasing full year 2018 production to 9,000-10,000 boe/d.

The Company’s two rig development plan calls for the drilling of 30 – 40 new wells per twelve month period. The Company anticipates Capital Expenditures of $175 – 190 million in 2018 and $200 – 220 million in 2019. The Company began drilling the H Harlan Bethune 25H, 26H and 27H subsequent to quarter end and anticipates mobilizing a second rig late in the second quarter to the acquired assets.

The Company anticipates Lease Operating Expenses to increase slightly in the second quarter due to the assumption of Pioneer’s existing midstream contracts for acquired existing production, before decreasing as additional production come online at more market rates.

The Company has issued EBITDAX guidance of $100 – 110 million and $250 – 275 million for full years 2018 and 2019 respectively.

The following tables present certain production, per unit metrics and Adjusted EBITDAX that compare results of the corresponding quarterly reporting periods:

Three Months Ended March 31,

Unaudited

2018

2017

% Change

Net Sales Volumes

Oil (Bbls)

365,241

398,634

-8

%

Natural gas (Mcf)

884,423

770,845

15

%

NGL (Bbls)

79,513

68,046

17

%

Total Boe

592,158

595,154

-0.5

%

Average Daily Volumes

Average daily production (Boe), including flared gas (1)

7,002

6,685

5

%

Product Price Received

Total price received (per Boe)

$

40.59

$

39.04

4

%

Total realized price (per Boe)(2)

$

37.92

$

38.11

-0.5

%

(1) Includes flared gas of 228,150 Mcf and 38,862 Mcf for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

(2) Includes realized losses on commodity derivatives of $1.6 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

UNIT COST ANALYSIS

Three Months Ended March 31,

Unaudited

2018

2017

% Change

Revenue/Boe

$

40.59

$

39.04

4

%

Lease operating expenses/Boe

(11.25

)

(7.12

)

58

%

Production taxes/Boe

(3.13

)

(2.36

)

33

%

Cash G&A/Boe(1)

(6.23

)

(5.41

)

15

%

Net per Boe

19.98

24.15

-17

%

Adjusted EBITDAX(2)

12,342

13,828

-11

%

Adjusted EBITDAX Margin (3)

51.3

%

59.5

%

-14

%

(1) Cash G&A represents general and administrative expenses incurred less equity-settled share based compensation expense, which totaled $0.4 million and $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

(2) See reconciliation of income (loss) attributable to owners of the Company to Adjusted EBITDAX included at end of release.

(3) Adjusted EBITDAX Margin represents Adjusted EBITDAX as a percentage of revenue during the period.

Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements are included below.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

Three Months Ended March 31,

Unaudited (US$000s)

2018

2017

Revenue

$

24,036

$

23,233

Lease operating and production tax expense

(8,515

)

(5,641

)

Depreciation and amortisation expense

(12,187

)

(14,159

)

General and administrative expenses

(4,057

)

(3,771

)

(Loss) Gain on commodity hedging, net

(6,684

)

6,580

Finance costs, net of amounts capitalized

(3,982

)

(3,107

)

Impairment expense (1)

(2,957

)

–

Other items of income, net

1,066

7

Income before income tax

(13,280

)

3,142

Income tax expense

(2,303

)

(651

)

Income (loss) attributable to owners of the Company

$

(15,583

)

$

2,491

(1) 2018 impairment expense relates to further impairment on the Company’s non-core Dimmit County and PEL570 assets of $2.3 million and $0.7 million, respectively.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(US$000s)

March 31, 2018

December 31, 2017

(Unaudited)

(Audited)

Cash

$

1,066

$

5,761

Trade and other receivables

3,599

4,006

Other current assets(1)

52,003

3,855

Assets held for sale(2)

59,824

61,064

Total current assets

116,492

74,686

Oil and gas properties

370,361

375,021

Other assets

5,968

4,911

Total assets

$

492,821

$

454,618

Current liabilities

$

76,680

$

73,072

Liabilities related to assets held for sale(2)

979

1,064

Total current liabilities

77,659

74,136

Total current liabilities

Credit facilities, net of financing fees

189,520

189,310

Other non current liabilities

15,575

13,821

Total liabilities

$

282,754

$

277,267

Net Assets

$

210,067

$

177,351

Equity

$

210,067

$

177,351

(1) Includes $48.0 million nonrefundable deposit made in connection with the Company’s Eagle Ford acquisition, which closed on April 23, 2018.

(2) The Company’s Dimmit County Eagle Ford assets (and related liabilities) were classified as held for sale as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

Three Months Ended March 31,

Unaudited (US$000s)

2018

2017

Operating

Receipts from sales

$

25,896

$

25,525

Payments for operating and administrative expenses

(9,026

)

(9,503

)

Payments for commodity derivative settlements

(1,613

)

(839

)

Other, net (1)

(2,324

)

3,850

Net cash provided by operating activities

12,933

19,033

Investing

Payments for development expenditures

(7,058

)

(16,073

)

Payments for exploration expenditures

(1,359

)

(1,409

)

Deposit for Eagle Ford acquisition

(48,000

)

–

Other

(62

)

(100

)

Net cash used in investing activities

(56,479

)

(17,582

)

Financing

Proceeds from the issuance of shares (2)

47,585

–

Proceeds from foreign currency derivatives

991

–

Interest paid, net of capitalized portion

(3,648

)

(5,595

)

Repayments of borrowings (3)

(6,415

)

(949

)

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

38,513

(6,544

)

Cash beginning of quarter

5,761

17,463

FX effect

338

10

Cash at end of quarter

$

1,066

$

12,380

(1) Includes $2.3 million of federal income tax payments and $3.9 million of federal income tax refunds (net) for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

(2) Transaction costs related to the issuance of shares were settled in the second quarter of 2018 with the completion of the Conditional Placement portion of the capital raise.

(3) 2018 repayments of borrowings related to the Company’s 2017 revenue advance from its oil purchaser.

Conference CallThe Company will host a conference call for investors on Wednesday, May 16, 2018, at 5 p.m. Mountain Time (Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 9 a.m. AEDT).

We define “Adjusted EBITDAX” as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, depletion and amortization, property impairments, gain/(loss) on sale of non-current assets, exploration expense, share based compensation and income, gains and losses on commodity hedging, net of settlements of commodity hedging and items that the Company believes affect the comparability of operating results such as items whose timing and/or amount cannot be reasonably estimated or items that are non-recurring.

Below is a reconciliation from the net income (loss) attributable to owners of the Company to Adjusted EBITDAX:

IFRS Income (Loss) Attributable to Owners of Sundance Reconciliation to Adjusted EBITDAX

Three Months Ended March 31,

Unaudited (US$000s)

2018

2017

Income (loss) attributable to owners of Sundance

$

(15,583

)

$

2,491

Income tax expense

2,303

651

Finance costs, net of amounts capitalized

3,982

3,107

Loss (gain) on derivative financial instruments, net

6,684

(6,580

)

Settlement of commodity derivatives

(1,583

)

(552

)

Depreciation and amortization

12,187

14,159

Impairment expense

2,957

–

Noncash share-based compensation

369

552

Acquisition-related costs included in general and administrative expenses(1)

1,026

–

Adjusted EBITDAX

$

12,342

$

13,828

(1) Professional fees included in general and administrative expense related to the Company’s Eagle Ford acquisition, which closed April 23, 2018.

The Company reports under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). All amounts are reported in US dollars unless otherwise noted.

The Company’s full Unaudited Activities Report as filed with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 6-K for the Quarter Ended March 31, 2018 can be found at www.sundanceenergy.net.

The Company’s 2017 Annual Report as filed with the ASX and Form 20-F as filed with the SEC can be found at www.sundanceenergy.net.

For more information, please contact:

United StatesEric McCrady, Managing Director
Tel: +1 (303) 543 5703

AustraliaMike Hannell, Chairman
Tel: +61 8 8363 0388

About Sundance Energy Australia Limited

Sundance Energy Australia Limited (“Sundance” or the “Company”) is an Australian-based, independent energy exploration company, with a wholly owned US subsidiary, Sundance Energy Inc., located in Denver, Colorado, USA. The Company is focused on the acquisition and development of large, repeatable oil and natural gas resource plays in North America. Current activities are focused in the Eagle Ford. A comprehensive overview of the Company can be found on Sundance’s website at www.sundanceenergy.net

Summary Information

The following disclaimer applies to this document and any information contained in it. The information in this release is of general background and does not purport to be complete. It should be read in conjunction with Sundance’s periodic and continuous disclosure announcements lodged with ASX Limited that are available at www.asx.com.au and Sundance’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission available at www.sec.gov.

Forward Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements relate to the Company’s expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. These statements can be identified by the use of words like “anticipate”, “believe”, “intend”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “plan”, “project”, “will”, “should”, “seek” and similar words or expressions containing same.

These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s views and assumptions with respect to future events as of the date of this release and are subject to a variety of unpredictable risks, uncertainties, and other unknowns. Actual and future results and trends could differ materially from those set forth in such statements due to various factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control or predict. These include, but are not limited to, risks or uncertainties associated with the discovery and development of oil and natural gas reserves, cash flows and liquidity, business and financial strategy, budget, projections and operating results, oil and natural gas prices, amount, nature and timing of capital expenditures, including future development costs, availability and terms of capital and general economic and business conditions. Given these uncertainties, no one should place undue reliance on any forward looking statements attributable to Sundance, or any of its affiliates or persons acting on its behalf. Although every effort has been made to ensure this release sets forth a fair and accurate view, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.